Robbie Lawler signs new multi-fight UFC contract

Lawler’s manager, Monte Cox, today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the promotion has signed the fighter to a new multi-fight agreement following his first-round knockout of Josh Koshcheck at this past weekend’s UFC 157 event.

Cox declined comment on the terms of the agreement. Lawler (20-9 MMA, 5-3 UFC) currently is awaiting his next fight.

Lawler’s recent UFC return came seven years after he last set foot in the octagon at UFC 50, where he submitted to Evan Tanner in the second round. Debuting at UFC 37 in 2002, he earned three straight wins to put himself on the short list of welterweight contenders before a loss to Pete Spratt halted his rise.

Lawler then beat Chris Lytle and suffered a knockout loss to now-top welterweight contender Nick Diaz before moving up to middleweight, where his loss to Tanner prompted his release from the promotion.

Lawler went on to fight for every major MMA promotion not named the UFC. He served stints in PRIDE, IFL, EliteXC (where he won the title), and finally, Strikeforce, where he lost a bid to become the promotion’s middleweight champion when he submitted to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

Still, the now-defunct promotion offered Lawler a generous contract, which he fought under when he stepped into the octagon at UFC 157. According to the California State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the Feb. 23 pay-per-view event at Anaheim, Calif.’s Honda Center, he earned $105,000 ($95,000 to show and $10,000 as a win bonus) in the upset victory.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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